A Great Loss to Our Industry

A wonderful friend and colleague to many of us, Dave Simpson, died last Saturday evening. He was hit by a pickup truck while crossing a street in Laughlin, Nevada. Dave and his wife Barbara were attending a McDonnell Douglas/Boeing retirees golf tournament and banquet in Laughlin. Following dinner, they were crossing a street, and Dave was struck and killed. Barbara was not hurt.

In Long Beach, Dave led the MD10 and MD11 freighter conversion programs, and the Recovery and Modification Services (RAMS) organization at McDonnell Douglas. Following the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, Dave was one of the early leaders in the development of the Boeing Commercial Aviation Services organization. He had a hand in every major Boeing freighter conversion and modification program until his retirement about 3 years ago. He retired as the Director of Manufacturing and Quality Assurance for Commercial Aviation Services. When you needed help, he was the guy to call. For his Boeing colleagues, the customers and the modification partners. We all relied on him.

Dave was 62 years old when he died, and full of life. Loved his family and friends, loved his boat, loved to catch fish, and loved to help people. We will miss him dearly. Goodbye Dave.